Luis Carrero Blanco

Luis Carrero Blanco , 1903-73, Spanish statesman and naval officer. Following the Spanish civil war, during which he served in the Nationalist navy, he became chief of naval operations on the admiralty staff and one of Francisco Franco's intimate collaborators. In 1951 he was appointed ministerial undersecretary in charge of coordinating the policies of the separate ministries. Made vice admiral (1963) and admiral (1966), Carrero Blanco increasingly controlled government affairs as vice premier (1967-73). In June, 1973, when Franco separated the duties of chief of state and head of government, Carrero Blanco became premier. Since he had been influential in developing contacts with monarchist groups, his appointment was generally regarded as a step toward Franco's planned restoration of the monarchy under Juan Carlos. In Dec., 1973, he was assassinated in Madrid, apparently by Basque nationalists, in retaliation for the government's execution of Basque militants.

Battle Ibáñez, Jorge Luis (b. 27 Oct. 1927). President of Uruguay, 2000–  Born in Montevideo into one of Uruguay's most influential political families, he became a journalist, and in 1958 entered parliament for the Colorado Party. In that year his father, Luis Battle Berrez, finished his second term as President of Uruguay. Jorge lost two elections for the presidency in 1966 and 1971, but with the onset of the dictatorship in 1973 he retired from active politics. He returned to politics with his elections to the Senate in 1984, but he lost two further presidential elections in 1989 and 1994. He finally won the 1999 elections in the second round, following a groundbreaking agreement between the Blancos and the Colorados. Battle continued his predecessor's policies of economic liberalization, by promoting, for instance, the privatization of the state's telecom company. He also promoted an active engagement with the wrongs committed during the dictatorship by recognizing the state's responsibility towards the victims and their relations.